In the Community

The Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) is a great place to call home. Aiken, South Carolina, named 2018's “Best Small Town in the South” by Southern Living Magazine, is the perfect place for all ages and lifestyles. Learn more about shopping, art and history, our schools, and why we’re just waiting for you to call it home.

Cost of Living and Housing

Cost of living and housing prices in the area we serve are lower than the national average, and lower than what is typically seen in South Carolina.

Learn more about cost of living and housing →

Art and History

The South is packed with local artists and enriched with a long running history that you’ll want to discover. Our community is ready to share our culture and history through museums, concerts, art galleries, jazz festivals, historic landmarks, artifacts and photos.

Aiken County

Columbia County

Edgefield County

Lexington County

Richmond County

Entertainment

Also recognized by Southern Living Magazine as one of the South's best food cities, Aiken offers a variety of locally and independently-owned restaurants, each serving up unforgettable culinary experiences. If you want to learn about the CSRA through food, you’ll be able to choose from traditional American dishes to Southern cuisine to fun, regional faire. Ask a local where to eat, and you’ll feel the passion they have for their local food scene.

And in between meals, the CSRA has plenty of options to keep you busy. Jog through 70 miles of trails in Hitchcock Woods, hit a golf ball, paddle the waterways, head to a polo match, cheer on the Augusta GreenJackets, dine overlooking the Savannah River at SRP Park, head to an outdoor concert or one of our many playhouses, tour a museum, head to the Farmers Market with the family, or just sit in Aiken’s Alley Downtown and enjoy the music. There are endless options in this place we call home.

Shopping

The CSRA is full of southern charm! We have many locally owned shops for you to help fuel the local economy. From antiques to clothing boutiques, farmers markets, home accessories or local gifts, their doors are open to welcome you in. And if you’re in need of your cherished, well-known national brand, we have you covered.

While this list does not include all the stores we love, here are a few places to get started:

Weather

With an average of 216 sunny days a year, (nearly two weeks more than the rest of the U.S.) there’s ample opportunity to enjoy the outdoors.

Outdoors

Here you’ll find beautiful public parks and playgrounds, enchanting gardens, and one of the largest urban forests in the nation – Hitchcock Woods, home to 2,100 acres, perfect for walking, running and horseback riding. There are also lakes, rivers and canals to boat, float or paddle, and trails to bike, run or walk. You can dine outside at one of the delicious restaurants, or explore one of our quaint downtowns. You’ll soon notice, our community loves to be outside!

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